Self-propelled sled.



A. ENGELSON.

SELF PBOPELLED SLED. APPLICATION Him MAR. 2. 1912.

1,272,239. Patented m s, 191s.

2 smirk-SHEET 2.

wmmtof' UNITED STATES ALBERT ENG-ELSON, OF BELLINGI-IAM, MINNESOTA.

SELF-PROPELLED SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 2, 1917. Serial No. 152,054.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT ENGnLsoN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Bellingham, in the county of Lao qui Parle ticularly to an improved motor driven sled.-

The invention has for its principal object to provide a sled having means for propelling the same over snow, ice and the like at a material rate of speed, thus, allowing the same to be successfully used irrespective of the grade of the roads for both pleasure and commercial purposes.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for maintaining the driving elements of the sled in yieldable engagement with the snow or ice, the said means being capable of adjustment, whereby, the pressure thereof and as a'consequence, the pressure on the driving elements, may be varied to accord with the condition of the snow or ice.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel roller means for the sled runners, whereby when the same are engaged with the earth or surface of a roadway, the usual drag caused thereby will be eliminated and hence, the speedof the sled not retarded.

Among other aims and objects of the invention may be recited, the provisions of a sled of the character mentioned wlth a view to compactness, and 111 whlch the number of parts are few, the construction simple,

the cost of production small, and efliciency and operation high.

I The improvements in the details and arrangements of parts will be'apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in connectionwith the specific description hereinafter contained, and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of imparting a full understanding of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan'of my improved motor driven sled with parts thereofbroken away; i

Fig. 2 is a'longitudinal section in elevation therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectiontlu'ough the rear runners of the sled; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section in detail of a portion of'one of the runners.

Referring now more specifically to the several figures of the said drawings wherein like reference characters designate like and corresponding parts, there is provided a frame 1, which frame comprises a plurality of longitudinally arranged bars, certain of the same serving as side bars for the frame, and a plurality of transversely disposed bars, the ends of which are engaged with the longitudinally disposed bars at suitable intervals throughout the length thereof. Cross bars 2 formed of angle metal are engaged with the opposite extremities of the longitudinal bars of the frame 1 and as'will be hereinafter apparent, serve not only to Patented July 9, 1918. Y

brace the said frame structure, but also serve as suitable supporting means. I

A plurality of oppositely disposed pairs of runners 3 and 4 are arranged beneath the forward and rear extremities of the frame 1, the forward runners 4 being so mounted as to permit considerable movement thereof whereby the sled will be rendered dirigible. Roller bearings 3' and at are rotatably mounted upon the surface engaging portions of the forward and rear runners 3 and l, and serve as means for permitting the same to pass freely or slide over such exposed portions of earth or roadway asmay be encountered'by the sled during its travel.

To yieldably support the frame 1 upon the several pairs of runners 3 and 4E, elliptical springs 5 are interposed between the same and have their upper portions secured to the adjacent portions of the body 1 as at 6, while the lower portions of the rearwardly disposed elliptical springs are rig idly-secured to the upper portions of their respective runners 3 by passing bolts through i the same into engagement with the said runners, the bolts being lndlcated by the numeral 6. As a meansfor supporting that portlon of the rear end of the frame 1 intermediate the rear elliptical springs .5, a transversely dlsposed arcuate spring 7 having the opposite extremities thereof offset and seated upon the upper portions of the runners 3 is provided, it being noted that the upper portion of the saidarcuate spring bears upon the frame 1, specifically, the

intermediate portion, thus, properly supporting the same. To secure the opposite offset extremities of the arcuate springs 7 upon the upper portions of the rear runners 3, the same are preferably passed through bearing openings formedlhcrein and then clamped in position through the medium of the locking bolts 6. The forward ru-niiEli's the transverse bars of the frame. To sup port th'oseqmrtionsof theu'n'i'versally ointed driven shaft 18 as in proximity of the frame l,-*bearing'bollars 28 are secured to the ad- 4 have bearing openings formed in the upper jacen'tcross bar of the frame and loosely po1'tihs -thereof substantially intermediate" the ends of the same and receive there- 7 through pivot bolts 8, the saidpivdfibolt's being carried the lower portions of then: forward ellipticalsp'rings '5 andbeing locked: in engagement with the runners by T 5 of washers; or'be'aring plates 9 wh'ieh -a-ro passed over "the remaining "extremities thereof and are held in engagement there with cotter pins 1-0 or otherfsuitable fa s-l tening devices; An: arcuate spring llv simil lar tothe arcuatespring7 is arranged trails verselypf the forward portion of the frame a 1 and has'its opposite ends offset whereby the same may {be' passed into engagement with suitable bearing openings {formed upon" the upper portionsi of the runners land rigidlysecured to -,tl1fe sameby: means of the pivotbolts 8.- ;By so mounting the forward runners i, 'it Will be evident, that pivotal f movement. of the same will be permitted and therefore that the sled may be guided into the desired-course; v

With a; view toward providing 1ne'ans;fordriving the sledconstruction over the surface "of snow or 'ice,'-a"2plurality ofhang'ers? 12- are-en'1-pl0yed and have foert'ainof the armsthereof engaged with -tl1e;rear angle metali piece'sQ as -at'13 while 'there'main'ingarms are forked I and snugly engage the adjacent c'ross barof'the frame asat ll.- -Elongated-bearingopenings; are formed in the lower-portionsof the-hangers 12 I and-receive therein driving axles l5the axles'inturn carrying fixedly mounted spur-'wlieelswlfi thereon in spaced apart relation and power" transmitting beveled gears 17. -Driv'en shafts 18 universally: jointedas at 19" are movably affixed to -the-fra1ne 1- by meansof 1 a plurality'off connecting-links 20-,- the said connecting l-inks having their ends looped and engaged-"with eyelets 21 asarranged-1 upon-certainof the cross bars of the Stud 1 frame while othersof the-ends thereof are engaged: with apertured ears formed-upon the opposite --sidesof a collar portion 22,--- which collar portion loosely receives therethrough; the said *driven shaft. Beveledgears 23 and 24 are mou'nted'upon lihB'OPPO-"q site extremities of; the -drivenshaft*18;; it beingnoted that: the beveled gears :23 are in mesh with thepower transmitting-bevel j' gear LZarrang-edupon the beveled'shaft 1-5, while the remainingbevel gears 2st; are engaged withsimilar gears which: are mounted upon a second jdriven shaft- 26 ar- 1 ranged transver's elyof the frame -1 and-hav ing the-ends of the same journaled within 'fgear 4:1 which is in mesh with power transsuitable-bearings for-med in stubbars ,27

arranged between and secured to certain of driven and driv1ng1sha'fts'18 and 15, respecreceive'th'esame therethrough. Otherbear-f ing collars 29 are loosely arranged about the v 1 LI -103D: lsiifltuii LI n remaining portlons of the drlven shaft 18,

preferably, adjacent the beveled gear 23 and carries thereon laterally extendin arms driving shaft 1 ti vely, the beveled gears 53' arranged tli eredn Wlll be constantly mainta ned 1n mesh and; W

the proper transmission of driving power insured;- Further, upon movement ofeith'er '85 of i ses ile 18; sea fbr 's n of e r sesnee iqnfbe me edi el e t e r- '-A pluralty-of quadrants 32 having suitable offset lewerlportions are secured to the" upperfa'ee .of the-transverse crossbar sup- .7

porting the bearing collarsi28 as a 33 and have pivotally mounted thereon a hand 1e;

ver 3%, the lower portion of "the saidhand lever being provided with an .oflset extension 35,t he purpose "textural-e111 be presyf p fefi -i Arci tf eaf p s 3 are? also pivotally connected to ,the said cross bar s at p egamema ewe j rants 32and have the free extremities thereof bearing upon the obliquely arranged sec- J tions of the driven shaft 18. By so arranging theiareuate springs 36 with relation to the uadrants nd aiagonaii' disposed see:

ti'ons ofthe driven shaft 18; the extension of the lev er 34- will beengagfed: with the same I '7 when the said levers are rocked in theproper directionj' thus; increasing the tension of thef springs and as a g'gonsequence increasing the -:pressure uponthe fdriven shaft 1 8 and also upon the spur wheelslfi, thereby, forcing? the same downwardly into engagement with the surface over which the sled construction s to 'bedrlven; By varying the positlomng of'the lever 34withrelati0nto the quadrant 32, the tension upon the arcuate springs 36;

may be adj usted accordingly; and as will obvious; the spur wheels lfl'may be' main-" tained in; engagement with the snow or ice under varyingpressure.

- As a means for driving the spur wheels 18" whereby the sled constructionmaybe propelled, a prime-mover, preferably in form of an internal combustion engi1 e ;3 8 is fixedly f mounted upon a suitable bedblate 39 as arranged upon the transverse bars of the j A power 7 frame 1 forwardly of the same.

shaft tO' extends' from the crank; casing of the engine 39 and is provided with a beveled mounted upon the frame and also connected to the driven shaft 26. A clutch element 43 is interposed between the power shaft 40 and is controlled by means of a hand lever 44 in order that the transmlssion of power through the said shaft to the transmission means 42 may be controlled by the operator.

A steering column 45, rotatably mounted in brackets indicated by the numeral 46 is extended diagonallydownward through the frame 1 to a point Whereat the lower extremity thereof is in horizontal alinement with the top portions of the forward runners A connecting link 47 is fixedly mounted upon the lower extremity of the column 45 and has pivotal engagement with a plurality of transversely disposed connecting rods 48, the connecting rods in turn extending into engagement with the top portions of the forward runners 4 as at 45. A hand wheel 50 is mounted upon the upper extremity of the steering column 45 and obviously, facilitates the rotation thereof. If desired, control levers whereby the supply of combustive mixture to the internal combustion engine 38 may be regulated at will by the operator or may be passed longitudinally of the steering column into engagement with a suitable quadrant as arranged upon the hand wheel 50. However, since this type of control means is conventional in the art and forms no part of my invention, I desire to have it understood that the same is not limited thereto in any respect but that various modes of control may be substituted or used such as conditions or )reference may dictate. A brake drum and and 51 are ar ranged upon the shaft 26 for an obvious purpose.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated by workers in the art that I have provided an exceedingly simple motor driven sled, which by reason of its construction may be readily used upon either snow or ice by merely adjusting the positioning of the spur or driving wheels 16 with relation to the surface of the same. Further, should the surface of the snow be soft, thereby, tending to permit the idle operation of the spur wheels 16, the said wheels may be so adjusted as to more positively or surelyengage the same by adjusting the hand lever 34 to vary the tension of the arcuate springs 36 upon the driven shaft 18. Such action, as will be understood, will vary the positioning of the spur wheels and should the tension be increased, the spur wheels in turn will be more deeply embedded in the snow. However, when the construction is used in connection with ice covered surfaces, it is evident that but a slight engagement of the spur wheels 16 with the ice is necessary to properly drive the sled thereover. Therefore, but minor adjustment is necessary and by varying the positioning of the hand lever 34 and hence the tension of the arcuate springs 36 such adjustment will be obtained. Also, by providing the engaging surfaces of the forward and rear runners with the rollers 3 and 4 the sled will be permitted to move freely over such exposed portions of earth or roadway as may be encountered thereby without materially retarding the speed'of the same.

It is to be understood that variable speed gearing can be interposed in the power shaft 40in order that the sled may-be driven at different speeds.

IVhile I have herein illustrated and described with a considerable degree of particularity, constructional details of the sled embodying my invention, it is to be under stood that the invention is not limited to the particular form and arrangement of the several parts which may be modified within a wide range without departing from the essence of the invention, the construction shown and the description based thereon being intended to be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

I claim: 4

1. In a self-propelled sled, a plurality of shafts movably supported adjacent the rear runners thereof, driving means mounted on said shafts, power transmission on the sled, pivotally connected sectional driving shafts interge-ared with said transmission and said movable shafts, means for preventing lateral movement of certain of the drive shaft sections, arcuate springs pivotally connected at certain of their ends to the sled and having the remaining ends bearing on certain of the drive shaft sect-ions, and levers mounted adjacent the springs and engageable therewith for varying the tension of the same.

2. In a self-propelled sled, a plurality of hangers having slotted bearing portions formed therein secured to the sled adjacent the rear runners thereof, spurred driving wheels mounted on shafts journaled in said slotted bearings, power transmission on the sled, pivotally connected sectional driving shafts intergeared withsaid transmission and said movable shafts, means for preventing lateral movement of certain of the drive shaft sections, arcuate springs pivotally connected at certain of their ends to the sled and having at the remaining ends certain of the drive shaft sections, and levers mounted adjacent the springs and having portions bearing upon the same for varying the tension thereof.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

ALBERT ENGELSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0." 

